Instant tax refund service boosts inbound spending in Chengdu

Chengdu municipal government released in April a document called the Action Plan to Facilitate the Implementation of the Instant Refund upon Purchases Services of the Departure Tax Refund Policy for Inbound Tourists, which specifies that Chengdu will expand the coverage of tax refund stores, encourage eligible key A-class tourist attractions, CBDs, and business outlets in characteristic commercial areas to apply for the establishment of tax refund upon departure stores, in order to further enhance the shopping convenience for overseas tourists.

With the promotion of the new service model, Chengdu has been attracting a growing number of inbound tourists, spurring a shopping boom during the May Day holiday. During the holiday period, Chengdu received a total of 15.516 million tourists, among which the number of inbound tourists saw a 40.7% increase year-on-year. Among the purchases, clothing, suitcases and jewelry are the most sought-after items.

As China expands its visa-exemption agreements and continues to streamline entry policies for foreigners, more and more international visitors are flying directly to Chengdu to experience the city’s rich cultural charm.

Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China show that Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport were the busiest airports in the Chinese mainland during the May Day holiday. The international aviation hubs in Chengdu recorded 8,549 takeoffs and landings during the time, handling a passenger throughput of 1.29 million and a cargo and mail throughput of 13,000 tons, an increase of 6.3%, 7.3%, and 12.3% respectively year-on-year. The statistics include 649 international and regional flights, with a passenger throughput of 86,000 and a cargo and mail throughput of 6,000 tons, an increase of 10.4%, 16.6%, and 16.3% respectively compared with the same period in 2024.

As of 24:00 on May 5, 2025, the Chengdu Border Inspection Station had handled over 2.06 million inbound and outbound passengers and more than 16,000 flights in the year, an increase of 10.5% and 15.8% respectively year-on-year. Chengdu tops among cities in central and western China in terms of the number of inbound and outbound passengers and flights.